Ore concentrator



June l0, 1930. R, C, FEHELY ET AL 1,762,265 4 ORE CONCENTRATOR Original Filed April 20, 1927 2 snaai-,5-5mm `1 atten/lmao June l0, 1930.

R. c. FEHELY ET AL 1,762,265

ORE CONCENTRATOR Original Filed April 20, 1927 2 `Sheng-.Sheet 2 Um f Patented .lune 10, 1930 vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH' C. FEHELY AND RAYMOND F. STEVENSON, OF KENO, OREGON; SAID STEVENSON ASSIGNOR TO SAID FEHELY ORE CONCENTRATOR Original application filed April 20, 1927, Serial No, 185,313. Divided and this application filed August 28,

, 1928. Serial No. 302,604.

This invention is a divisional part/of that for which on the 20th day of April 1927, We

filed an application for Letters Patent in the United States, Serial Number 185,313 and relates to the means for removing magnetic material from the bore bearing medium preliminary to the amalgamating process for separa-tion of gold and silver.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and the drawings hereto attached, in which :4

Figure l is a top plan view of an ore separator embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a vertical, central, longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus on the line 3 3 of Figure l.

Figure .4`is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line`4--4 of Figure 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like referencecharacters. A

The numerals 1 and 2 designate pans, tables, or other like surfaces over which ore bearing material is caused to travel in placer mining. As shown, theV4 pan 1 is disposed in a higher plane than the pan 2 and dis charges its contents into the latter. The level of the material in the pan 1 may be regulated by means of plugs 3, which close openings disposed at` diierent. elevations in the delivery en'd of the pan '1.

The sand, gravel, orother ore bearing medium is adapted to be supplied to the pan 1, by ,means of a flume not shown, or in any determinate way. f A plurality of perforated pipes 4 extend over the bottom ofthe pan l, and the perforations face upwardly, whereby to deliver` a plurality of jets in an upward direction across the path of the ore bearing medium and through' the same to effect a loosening and an agitation thereof. The pipes 4 are connected at one end to a supply pipe 5, located at one side of the pan L or separating table.

A plurality of perforated pipes 6 extend over the bottom of the pan 2 and have the perforations facing upwardly to throw the jets across and through the material passing over the pan or separating surface. The perforated pipes 6 are connected at one end to a supply pipe 7.U Other perforated pipes 8 are located above the bottom ol the pan 2 and opposite the spaces formed between the perforated pipes (5. The perforations in the pipe 8 face downwardly, whereby to project the jets towards the separating surface, or in an opposite direction to the jets issuing from the perforated pipes 6. The perforated pipes 8 are connected at one end to a supply pipe 9. The pipes 7 and 9 are located at the same side of the concentrator as the supply pipe 5 and the several pipes are connected with one another and with a source of supply not shown, of water, steam or-air, under pressure, to insure formation of the jets in the manner and for the purpose stated.`

A plurality of-blocks 10 are placed upon the bottom of the pan 2 forming the sepa-` rating surface and arev disposed between the perforatedpipes (i and in the plane thereof, as indicated most clearly in Figure 3. rl`he blocks 10 have a plurality of pockets 11 formed in their upper surface for the reception of mercury, lwhereby to scparate'the precious metal from the ore by the well known process of amalgamation. As the sand, gravel, or other mineral bearing me dium passes overfthe separating surface 2 it is loosened and agitated by the upwardly projected jets issuing from the'perforated pipes 6 and at the same time it is subjected to the downwardly projected jets issuing from the perforated pipes 8, fwith the result that any precious metal, suchas gold or ,sil- Ver, contained therein, is separated by amalgamating with the mercury contained in the cups 11. The cups or pockets 11 may be formed in the blocks 10 in any manner, and in the preferable arrangement the blocks -10 consist of hard wood and the pockets 11 are formed by boring openings therein.

Magnetic material contained in the sand, or other medium 1s removed therefrom ln lts pan to attract the magnetic material and become deenergized when clearing the pan to automatically discharge the magnetlc material separated from the ore bearing medium.'

, The electromagnets include soft iron bars 1.3 which radiate from a hub 14 formed of non-magnetic conductive material, such as brass, and upon the inner ends of the bars are mountedhelices or coils 15, throughwhich an electric current is caused to circulatetoA e'ect magnetization of the cores vor bars 13 `in a manner Well understood. This mag- 1 20 and the other lead is connected to the hub 14 or like-(part, as indicated most clearly in -Figure 4. A brush 21 frictionally engages the hub 14 or like part, thereby admitting of rotation of the magnetic separator.

In the operation of the'separator the electromagnets pass over the table 1 and attract the magnetic material from the ore bearing medium. n The electromagnets'are successive- `ly energized by the closing of the circuit through their coils 15. This takes place when the electromagnets reach a position just prior to thelr passage over the separatlng pan or table.

The electromagnets remain energized dur- .ing their travel over the separating pan or table, and 'after clearing the same the current is broken andthe electromagnets become deenergized and dropJ the load previously attracted.` So long as the brushes -19"'e11gage the contact 20 the circuit is closed through cer-: tam coils 15, with the result that the cores or bars 13 are 'magnetizedv This takes place -when the electromagnets are passing overthe separating pan'or table 1, and after clearing the same the brushes 19 clear the contact 20, thereby breaking the circuit, with the result that the electromagnets become deenergized and discharge the material attracted thereby.

vHaving thus described the invention, ywe

claim f l. The combination with an approximately horizontal separatingv tank open at its top, of

`a rotary magnetic separator comprising a hub rotatably mounted atl one side of said tank, l i. soft iron bars radiatingV from the hub to sweep 60T v across the open upper end of said-tank as the hub rotates, coils aboutl the inner end portions of the bars, means for energizing the coils duringl movement of the bars over the separating tank, and means at the-.bottom of the tank for Adirecting jets upwardly therein to agitate contents of the tank and project particles of metal upwardly into position to be attached by the magnetized bars and adhere to all surfaces of the bars.

' 2. The combination with an approximately.

horizontal separating tank open at its top and free from obstructionsthereabove, of a magnetic separator comprising a plurality of electric magnets radiating from an axis disposed vertically at one side of the tank and adapted to sweep across the open upper end of the tank and remove articles from the ore amenable to magnetic lnluence, and means for agitating4 contents of the tank and projecting the said particles upwardly into position to be attracted by said magnets and adhere to the,v

same. v

Inftestmony whereof we aiix our signatures.

RALPH C. FEHELY,` `[L. s.]` .RAYMONDF STEVENSON.- [L.s.] 

